Jordan‘s Focus on Trump Raises Questions as Thomas Ethics Concerns Go Unaddressed
WASHINGTON – While the Senate Judiciary Committee moves to address ethical questions surrounding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, the house Judiciary Committee, now led by Representative Jim Jordan, has conspicuously shifted its focus to investigations benefiting former President Donald Trump, prompting criticism that the committee is prioritizing partisan loyalty over its stated role as “the lawyer for the House of Representatives.”
The contrast in approaches comes as reporting continues to surface regarding financial dealings between Justice Thomas and Harlan Crow, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. In response, the Senate Judiciary Committee announced plans for a hearing “on the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Court’s ethical standards,” and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Hank Johnson have formally requested a referral of Thomas to the Attorney General for potential violations of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
However, the House January 6 committee’s report identified Jordan as “a meaningful player in President Trump’s efforts” to overturn the 2020 election. The report detailed Jordan’s involvement, including leading a conference call on January 2, 2021, with Trump and other members of Congress to discuss strategies for delaying the January 6th joint session. Despite a subpoena, Jordan refused to cooperate with the January 6 committee’s investigation.
This history has led to accusations that under Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee is now functioning as “the lawyer for Donald J. Trump,” with taxpayers footing the bill for investigations aligned with the former president’s interests while legitimate ethical concerns regarding a Supreme court Justice appear to be sidelined.